Clover Lane

Here is a list of my favorite things, lame or not with some new things added in (and the hair stuff I haven't used lately:):



These lined leggings with a high waist for cold winter walks are super comfortable and warm enough and only $25.
I love my Kindle-I switch between books and this but it's been nice for those times I wake up at 3 am and don't need a light.




I loved my first Dyson but when it bit the dust (we put that thing through hell) and it came to buy a new one I had sticker shock. Wow, those prices have gone up!  So I took my chances, read some reviews and bought something more budget friendly.  And I love this vacuum, in fact, I really think it has stronger suction that the Dyson (it puts vacuum lines in my Berber!). All the pieces and parts come apart also, in case a small sock or precious Lego gets vacuumed up or stuck. The cord is nice and long and the attachments are useful.  (Still going strong!)

First up, a reader asked me how I organize sibling presents.
On Christmas Eve we have a tradition- after 4:00 pm Mass, we eat a nice dinner (we decide every year together what it will be) and then the kids exchange gifts.  This year they chose to pick names (we've done both in the past-little gifts to everyone and picking names).  Jeff and I give one gift that night also to the kids and each other, which is always pj's (or sweatpants for older kids who don't wear pj's.)   Then we all go to bed calmly, and stay in our beds and sleep all night long, and awake to our living transformed because Santa came. :)

When the kids were littler this was a bit more complicated because I had to take the kids out shopping, which added to the busyness.  Now there is the nifty internet, or I'll try to schedule a mom-and-me shopping time with the kid and his own list and his own wallet, or I'll just buy something or have something extra on hand and say "How about this?"

For the little girl who loves babies:
These books are Janey's favorites:
Little Mommy
The New Baby
Baby Listens
This is a good little baby doll for very little girls (I bought this for Janey when she was two) as it is small:
Corolle Calin Baby Doll

Bigger girls:

Accessories:
Set of four flannel receiving blankets (only $8)  Janey uses these all the time for her babies.
A front pack carrier.
A stroller: Patrick and Janey both loved to push a little stroller for our walks.

For the little girl or boy who loves crafts:

Play dough recipe found here (can be packaged up cute in air tight containers.)
A large bucket of cookie cutters.
Real rolling pin.

A child size apron (these oil cloth Etsy ones are so cute!)

ALSO:
Pip-Squeek Markers
Colored Pencils
Drawing Books-  (These are great-Usborne Drawing Books.)
Paper Cutter: This is a favorite item for all kids-obviously be careful as the blade is super sharp but covered-I started letting my kids play with this around 3 when I knew they would be careful.
Construction Paper
Tracing Paper  (So good for learning to draw and hand/eye coordination.)
Clipboard for tracing paper. (Don't forget to show them how to tape down tracing paper so it doesn't slip, or if tracing from a book use clips.)
Watercolors.
Washable paints.
Set of real brushes. (they need decent brushes!)

Activity books:
Usborne sticker books are very nice.
Melissa and Doug sticker books are big hits here, particularly this one and this one.

A homework box is a great idea! Some of the art supplies above, with a notebook and paper in a clear box.  Also these stencils are used here often, (these stencils are super neat for kids!) and envelopes and stickers from the dollar store for notes.
For pretend play around the house:
This grocery cart.
Janey loves this cash register.
This kitchen. (warning: lots of pieces to put together!!! but so cute and sturdy when finished)
We have this food and kitchen set: Hape - Playfully Delicious - Gourmet Kitchen Starter Play Set
We love this cute tea set.
Cutting food and the sandwich maker are a favorite also.
I also found that the reusable kid's gift bags are great pretend grocery bags.

She also might need a purse and a wallet, the more pockets the better!

Janey sets up a "store" all over the family room and I sit at the register, she shops and I ring and put in the bag and repeat, repeat, repeat.


For the boy who loves football and soccer and every other sport:
This basketball hoop is a huge hit and takes your living room decor to the next level (a trade off for burned off boy energy, so worth it!  And ours is still going strong with teenage boys playing on it.)
These gloves.
This football.
Kicking tee.
This play white board.
These football guys (or soccer guys and baseball guys and hockey guys).

Favorite sports magazine and books:
Sports Illustrated for Kids. (my boys love the cards that come with every issue.)
Big Book of Who All-Stars.
Sports Illustrated What Are The Chances?
Childhood of Famous Americans Sports Guys books,

For the mom who loves outside toys:)
All time favorite is a basic scooter. (Ours has gone through so many boys and jumps and crashes and still is as good as new.)  This three wheel scooter is super fun and is used often.
These rip riders are huge hits and still are played with consistently-they have been crashed into, and once I ran one over that was left in the driveway-miraculously they survive.
For littler guys this plasma car is great.

For the reader:
A headlamp for reading at night.
I agonized over getting this Kindle for Andrew when he was in 5th grade but I love it-he uses it a lot (but still reads "real" books also.  It allowed him to keep up the pace of his ferocious book appetite without driving me mad with library visits-we've never paid for a book either-all rented downloads through the library.)
All of our favorite books are in the sidebar.
Have you read Where the Red Fern Grows to your children?  Or they can read it if old enough, it's our favorite.
Also there is a new Diary of a Wimpy Kid out they've been begging me to get.

For the teenage boy who offers up no gift suggestions ever:
A long board.
Jansport back packs have a lifetime guarantee (I know this because I sent one back and they reimbursed me!)
Gym bags.
Quadcopter.
These head phones work as well as the expensive ones, or so I've heard.
These maze puzzles appeal to all ages, and are irresistible for bored kids (and adults)...we have four of them!

For the teenage girl who loves makeup:
This eye shadow.
Or even more eyeshadow.
Brush set.
Remember caboodles?  If you were a teen in the 80's you do.  We couldn't find them but this art organizer works just as well. (Abbey bought this for college.)
This nail polish.

College kids:
Coffee cups (Anthro always has cute ones, but Janey and I found one just as cute at the Dollar Store. :) or travel cup.
A phone sticker that holds cards.
I love this Mary necklace-I have one and Abbey will also.
A super soft blanket (this one comes in tons of colors) for their dorm.
Nice warm socks (boy and girls).
A soft fluffy robe for girls.  (Aerie also has good ones but wait for a sale!)
Slippers for guys.  (Isaac wore these as shoes in college-also Land's End has great sales.)

Let me know if you have questions or if I missed an age group and you need help.

This is pretty easy and fun to make and SUPER delicious.  Top it with a little vanilla ice cream.

Delicious Apple Tart

1 pie crust-I use one roll of crust from the Pillsbury pie crust in the refrigerated section
5 Granny Smith (or any) apples, peeled and sliced (a job for a kid)

Mix:
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
pinch of salt

For The Crumb Topping_
1/4 cup cold butter
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup flour


Preheat oven to 400.
Spray the inside of a tart pan (or you could use a shallow pie pan) with non-stick spray.
Press the crust into the pan.
Put the sliced apples in the crust evenly.
Sprinkle the brown sugar and cinnamon mixture on top.

Mix the crumb topping ingredients together (use a fork)-it will be a coarse mixture.  Sprinkle on top of the cinnamon/apple mixture.

Bake for 40-45 minutes until top is slightly browned.

More of our favorite recipes here.

Thinking:
Remember my all-before-Advent idea for shopping?  It's not going to happen.  I decided to just take a not-going-to-be-stressed super simple gift giving that I can get all finished on line or locally sometime in December approach.

Playing:
Snow!  Not enough to play in but I love snow and cold and winter.  :) . I'm actually doing terrific with my new attitude, and my sun lamp, and major doses of Vitamin D and my hygge lessons (Isaac is dating a girl from Denmark who we love and so I have first hand lessons in hygge.  Good thing because the sun has shone about twice here in November.  But it's ok!!!)

I told the kids I am declaring a TV crack down.  I am making a list of things to do (only basketball and Survivor and Poldark :) are allowed.)

Build a giant Lego village in the basement over the entire winter using our bajillion dollars worth of Legos. (Most of our Legos are from the Lego City collection.)

A puzzle will always be in the works on the dining room table.

Games!  (All of our favorite games here.)

Books!
Basketball goals per day for Patrick.  (Best indoor basketball hoop ever.)


Andrew is teaching Patrick and Janey to do the rainbow loom-something he was obsessed with years ago that has been waiting to be loved again.

We joined the Y and the zoo so we can get out on weekends and be active.  (We went to the zoo last Friday with snow and were the only ones there in the morning and all the animals were out and loved seeing us-it was a blast!)

Reading:

I chose this book for my Advent reflection book-I checked out about 5 from the library and new this was just what I wanted this year.  For each day there is a Scripture, a prayer and an Advent action.

I've been thinking with all the holidays coming up I'd share a few thoughts about how to really enjoy them as a mom.  Remember I can do this, because I've learned through trial and error and messing up, and wanting do-over!  And I still am learning because families change and grow and adapt and that means we have to also.  But looking back at the younger years what would I change?  What have I learned?

1. I wouldn't overbook so that when the actual holiday comes around I and my children and husband are all tapped out. Our culture does a crazy job of encouraging this burnout.   Choose very very carefully what is worth participating in, and remember that for sure less is more.  Sometimes this means saying no to every "extra" but the actual day, depending on the ages of our children.  Sometimes this means being really really strong and very purposeful about what experience we want our children to have and what memories we want to give them surrounding a holiday.  Some years it's OK to just go trick-or-treating, or just make Christmas cookies and light an Advent wreath and decorate a tree and wake up on Christmas morning really deeply able to enjoy the day.  (Read Little House in the Big Woods or Anne of Green Gables or talk to grandparents for reminders of how our culture has changed!)

2. I would have had a plan with the future in mind when it comes to gifts.  What looked easy, affordable and non-consequential with a little one or two, will usually not last through more additions to the family and as children age.  It's easier to start really really small and simple and with a system in mind. (Something to wear, read, play with etc...one of those systems.)  Err on the side of less is more.

Also remember, if my happiness that day depends on everyone getting what they want and gasping in delight at every gift, even the socks and underwear, well, I will never be happy.  There will be years (thinking early teen) when kids are going through maybe a little friend envy and have to work through it, or are annoyed they have to get up at open gifts at 7 a.m. with everyone else (thinking late teen, early college), or just someone will have a bee in their bonnet, or say something thoughtless and we don't know what's up.  Just know kids grow and change, and talk about it later and eat some hot-cross Christmas buns and be grateful for all the growing pains and good times and bad.

3.  I would get that vision of perfection out of my head that we all see everywhere.  There is nothing at all wrong-it's so fun!-making our homes and our tables and our gifts look pretty-I love that part.  But many years, the top half of the tree is decorated because of toddlers and my nice plan for matching gift wrap goes all astray.  This goes for those perfect cards also-there are a few cards I look at that make me sad because I remember getting really mad at someone not cooperating, or the tears involved from the stress and or frustration and it just ruins the memory then-don't do that!  (Just a note-sometimes those memories make me laugh too.)

4. From the start, I would pick a few good traditions and stick with them.  The kids don't care how fancy or complicated or special it is-they want what is familiar to them, even if it is so simple and doesn't require a lot of hoopla. 

5. I would always remember that some holidays are just going to disasters or really really not as planned-everyone will have the flu, or you will be due with your fifth baby on Christmas Eve, or getting chemo the day before Thanksgiving and home sick.  Just expect that life will throw a wrench into plans (I say this about vacation also-I believe it's about every 1 in 5 will just be a little bit of a bomb).

And most of all-remember the years really do fly and appreciate the awesomeness of seeing it all again through a child's point of view.